The Iwagakure shinobi tightened their encirclent.
The cliffs and rooftops around the area were already swarming with shinobi, each fully prepared for battle, quietly awaiting the Tsuchikage's command.
"They're already surrounded, so why do they still look so calm?"
Kurotsuchi, granddaughter of the Third Tsuchikage, whispered to her father, Kitsuchi.
"..."
Kitsuchi looked uneasy.
He knew more than his daughter did.
Though they had successfully surrounded Shigen, he wasn't soone to take lightly—he had once defeated four Hokage. How could soone like that ever be intimidated?
"Stay sharp," Kitsuchi warned, placing a hand on Kurotsuchi's head. "This might turn into a brutal fight..."
And if it did, Iwagakure might not co out unscathed.
Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, understood this too.
Even though Shigen had invaded the village, he still hoped to resolve things peacefully. He was even prepared to lower himself, sacrificing the pride of a Kage for the sake of diplomacy.
"If Lord Shigen is willing to return our village's Jinchūriki, Han, then in light of past friendship, Iwagakure will still offer him the respect he deserves..."
But his words sparked outrage among the shinobi.
"Lord Tsuchikage!"
"How can you let him go!"
"He's an enemy who invaded our village—ancient legend or not, we can't just let him walk free!"
"Silence!"
Ōnoki's thunderous voice cut through the protests.
The aged yet commanding Tsuchikage radiated authority. Yet his eyes, when they landed on Shigen, were full of hope—hoping for peace.
"Lord Shigen..."
He tried to speak again.
But—
Shigen rely raised a hand, his brow faintly furrowed. "I don't wish to fight old comrades either. But if you want to release the Five-Tails, shouldn't we ask his opinion first?"
"???"
Ōnoki was baffled.
Ask Han's opinion?
What did that an?
Could it be...
Was Han already dead?
Ōnoki glanced toward the red-armored figure lying at Shigen's feet.
"Run..."
Han weakly muttered.
"What?"
Ōnoki couldn't hear clearly.
"Run... now..."
Han's eyes were full of fear.
He had been subdued by Shigen with a single hand—and in that mont, he had felt a terrifying, suffocating chakra press down on him.
This man...
Shouldn't exist in the shinobi world.
As a veteran Jinchūriki who had faced legends like the Fourth Hokage and the mighty Third Raikage, Han knew—
None of them ca close to this.
Even the Five-Tails within him, Kokuō, was trembling in fear.
"Don't mind ! Just run!"
Han roared, using the last of his strength.
He had once seen thousands of Iwa shinobi struggle to defeat the Third Raikage. And now? Shigen made even that legendary Raikage seem small.
Worse still—
Shigen's abilities were bizarre.
He appeared out of nowhere, used a space-ti technique to turn Han's own attack against him. He could escape at any ti.
Han knew:
Iwa had no chance.
Fighting would only lead to aningless loss.
Even soone like Han, a treasured weapon of the village, was now urging his people to abandon him to avoid annihilation.
"He disagrees."
Shigen sighed. "Which ans... we can't reach an agreent."
"Now..."
"We'll have to fight."
His tone shifted. He looked toward Ōnoki.
"Before we begin, may I ask you sothing?"
"..."
Ōnoki broke into a cold sweat.
The atmosphere turned suffocating.
All around, Iwa shinobi tensed, fingers gripping kunai and blades.
"What is it..." Ōnoki asked warily.
"Hmm..."
Shigen tapped the armrest of his wheelchair thoughtfully.
"Would you rather suffer and live—or die without a sound?"
"Because..."
"My power..."
"Might be a bit much for you all."
"So I wonder..."
"If I want you to witness the new world Akatsuki will build, perhaps I should give you... more evenly matched opponents."
"..."
Ōnoki's heart sank.
"Hey! Stop underestimating us!"
Kurotsuchi snapped angrily. "We know you're with Deidara! Even if you're as strong as him, you're not getting out of here!"
"Kurotsuchi!"
Ōnoki snapped again.
Anything could happen on this battlefield.
Kabuto chuckled. "They think we're on Deidara's level?"
"With their knowledge, they can't even fathom Lord Shigen's true strength."
"Lord Shigen..."
Kabuto raised his hand. "Shall I take care of this?"
"..."
Shigen lazily waved permission.
The next mont—Kabuto's expression turned sharp.
He rapidly ford hand seals.
BOOM!
Coffins burst from the ground, creaking open—each one a product of Kabuto's years of preparation.
Many of them contained Kage-level shinobi.
But the one that struck fear into Iwa the most... was his personal masterpiece.
THUD!
The first coffin's lid slid open.
A towering, muscular figure stepped out—blond-haired, shirtless, a lightning scar across his body. Lightning chakra crackled around him.
The Third Raikage!
The man who once fought ten thousand shinobi alone!
Though he had died from sheer exhaustion, not battle, Iwa shinobi would never forget his rampage through their forces.
Truth be told—
He terrified them even more than Shigen.
"The Third Raikage, A..."
Ōnoki's face showed clear dread.
Even Kurotsuchi, usually fearless, rembered the terrifying stories from her youth.
"Now..."
"Your war may continue," Kabuto said with a smile.
"This Raikage will never tire. His chakra will never run dry. You can fight forever..."
"Until..."
"Not a single soul in Iwa remains standing."
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Powerstones?
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates
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